Songe, also known as Songye, Kisonge, Lusonge, Yembe, and Northeast Luba, is a Bantu language spoken by the Songye people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In particular, it is spoken in the provinces of Kasai Oriental, Lomami, Sankuru, Tanganyika, and Maniema.
Ethnologue notes that Songe is "related" to Mbagani, which they do not include in their database. Maho (2009) labels as "Mbagani (Binji)" one of the two geographic areas Ethnologue assigns to Songe, but says that it is closer to Lwalu; he says that it is a different language, Binji, that is close to Songe.
Vocabulary Nouns and Classes (Substantifs)
Kisonge Term English Translation Original French Grammatical Notes muntu Person / Human homme / personne Singular (Class 1); Plural is bantu mukashi Woman / Wife femme Singular (Class 1); Plural is bakashi mema Water eu Pluralia tantum (Class 6; exists only in the plural) malufu Palm wine vin de palme
Isolated Pronouns
Kisonge Term English Translation Original French Grammatical Notes ami I / Me je / moi First-person singular obe You tu / toi Second-person singular e He / She / It il / elle Third-person singular atwe We nous First-person plural anue You (all)) vous Second-person plural abo They ils / elles Third-person plural
Adjective Roots and Gender Derivations (Adjectifs)
Kisonge Term English Translation Original French Grammatical Notes -kata Big / Large grand Adjective root -fita Black noir Adjective root -uwa Good bon Adjective root -kashi Female femelle Derivational suffix indicating gender
Verbs and Relational Particles (Verbes et Locatifs)
Kisonge Term English Translation Original French Grammatical Notes kukila To surpass dépasser Verb used structurally to form comparative sentences kukamba To exceed surpasser Verb used structurally to form superlative sentences -a Of de Associative/Genitive particle (takes prefixes like wa, ba) mu Inside / In dans Locative marker ku Toward / Near vers / près de Locative marker fa / ja On / Upon sur Locative marker
Phonology
Vowels A five vowel system with vowel length is present: FrontCentralBackClose Mid Open
Consonants LabialAlveolarPost-alv./PalatalVelarNasalPlosive/Affricatevoicelessvl. prenasalvoicedvd. prenasalFricativevoicelessvl. prenasalvoicedvd. prenasalApproximant
Sample text
Nkindi 31:1-10 (Jehovah’s Witnesses version)
Ano mmayi a nfumu Lemuele, mukandu wa muulo ubaadi nyinaye mumulungule bua kumulongiesha: Nkulungule namu kinyi, Ô muana ande mulume, Nkulungule kinyi, Ô muana a muifu diande, Na nkulungule kinyi, obe muana a mitshipo yande? Tokumanga kupa bana bakashi bukome bobe, Sunga kulonda mashinda aabutulaa ba nfumu. Tabi buwa bua ba nfumu, Ô Lemuele, Tabi buwa ba nfumu batome malofu, Sunga bakunkushi buabadia kuamba’shi: “A malofu ande e kunyi?” Tala batoma, baaluba miiya, Na baluisha kilumbu kia bantu bashadile. Pa baba abashimina malofu ebukopo, Na ope baba be na kinyongua kibukopo nfinyo. Batome bua’shi balube bulanda buabo; Na bayiluankane nkalakashi yabo. Akuila muntu shi na bia kuilamuina; Kaluila matalua a baba boso babakimbi kuipaa. Akula na osambishe na kululama; Kaluila matalua a bantu bashadile na balanda. Nnanyi mulombene kupeta mukashi sha ngobesha? E na muulo ukata kukila mabue a koraye.
Translation
Proverbs 31:1-10 (Jehovah’s Witnesses version)
The words of King Lemʹu·el, the weighty message his mother gave to instruct him: What should I tell you, O my son, What, O son of my womb, and what, O son of my vows? Do not give your vigor to women, nor follow ways that destroy kings. It is not for kings, O Lemʹu·el, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for rulers to say, “Where is my drink?” So that they do not drink and forget what is decreed, and pervert the rights of the lowly ones. Give alcohol to those who are perishing, and wine to those in bitter distress. Let them drink and forget their poverty; Let them remember their trouble no more. Speak up on behalf of the speechless; Defend the rights of all who are perishing. Speak up and judge righteously; defend the rights of the lowly and the poor. Who can find a capable wife? Her value is far more than that of corals.
Palatalization [ʲ] and labialization [ʷ] is also present among consonant sounds.
References